Psychlub 4: "A Sufi and a Killer" - Gonjasufi
 

Frownland's pick.

Ooh, nice pick. This has been on my list forever.

Oh-oh! Frownland? :shycouch:
Sure we'll give it a go...

Cool. Do we have a set list of questions? Or just post our thoughts?

We just post our thoughts. Should I add you to the rotation?

Yeah sure. I was completely oblivious.

I haven't listened to any Gonjasufi albums to this point, but I've been exposed as a result of being a Warp fanboy. The few songs I've heard didn't appeal to me enough to check out the albums, but that was a few years ago and I might enjoy it now.

I spaced on the last one, but I'll jam this one soon.

Just revisited Flying Lotus' Los Angeles, so this seems like a good time to try this.

Well unfortunately it seems I was right to avoid this album when it was released - I knew my tastes well enough. As I near the end of the album, it's funny how the experience is so in line with my original expectations. I like much of the music/production, which is essentially a combination of Flying Lotus and The Gaslamp Killer. But for the most part I can't stand the vocals. And if there's one thing I can say about my music tastes it's that vocals play a huge role. I don't care if I can't make out what a vocalist is saying, I just have to like the sound if I'm going to enjoy the music at all. Vocals aren't something I can often look past - if ever. I think the vocals are alright on some tracks, and did enjoy a few tracks. A 20-minute EP's worth of tracks, let's say. But at 54 minutes, I'm just not into it and can't see myself going in for a second listen. Am I glad I finally listened to the whole thing? Well not really, as it met the expectations I had of it 4 years ago when I decided not to listen to it.

Oh hey, there's an extra track on the version Spotify has (I think it's just a hidden track that they broke out), and it's basically him blabbering over Status Quo's "Black Veils of Melancholy". That was kind of cool as I like to hear 60s material used in this way. But again it would have been better without a drunk homeless man talking over it.

4/10

I enjoyed this. Very good lyrics. Sitar is one of my favourite instruments when used tastefully, and I really liked it on "Sheep" in particular. The only things I didn't like, sidewinder already mentioned: length and vocals. I feel it should have been a bit shorter. I think "Sheep" would have to be my favourite track - I love the metaphors.

7/10

The album started out sounding interesting to me until the 'lo-fi' sound kicked in. I don't mind lo-fi production when it's used very sparingly on an occasional track or two, but when it's used throughout an entire album it gets old fast. I think the worst place to use the lo-fi sound it is on vocals (where much of it is on this album) and the added sound of a scratchy record being played just grates on my nerves.
The album also suffers from a lack of direction. It's all over the musical map. There are some interesting moments and some promising tunes, but mostly it was the vocals and the lo-fi sound that derailed it for me.

With better production and better vocals this would probably rate a couple of points higher with me. As it is, I can't give it more than a 5/10

I enjoyed this one the more than I expected considering how it started. The first track had some kind of tribal thing going on and I thought it was going to be a long slog but I enjoyed it more and more as it went along. Quite a few different styles going on, doo wop, reggae, hip hop. I guess I would have called it more hip hop than psychedelic but there were plenty of psych elements. Seemed like there might be some Doors influence but I could be wrong. Anyways, I liked the vocals quite a bit throughout, very unique. This is one I could see listening to again and is quite a bit different from the things I normally find myself listening to. I'm going 7/10.